In Reply to: 25 years ago today, my very first trip . posted by sunluva on Tuesday, 28. September 2010 at 13:39 Bali Time:
I was 7mnths pregnant much to the worry of family and doctor. Wouldn't you know it, had balibelly for the first (but not the last)
time. I remember landing at the airport, sure I flew Qantas, and walking across the tarmac. The humidity and the smell just about made me feint. The drive to the hotel we were staying at at night time had me thinking that we were in the middle of a rice field. Still little tin shacks on the side of the ride. When we arrived at the hotel (Santika) I was so releived, civilisation. The Dynasty Hotel next door was still being built, had a laugh at the bamboo scaffolding. I remember the drive to Legain, hardly any traffic, nothing like it is now. We ate a lot in a restaurant that had an owl inside the restaurant. Was amazed at men cutting the grass with handheld shears. I definetly suffered a bit of culture-shock the first few day and came home wondering if I'd ever return. Thankfully, 15yrs later I returned again and now I head over probably 3 times a year.